Animal training halter

Abstract

A halter for training horses includes circumferentially expandable and contractible loops for encircling a horses head and nose. Reins operatively and integrally interconnect the loops so that tension applied thereto results in simultaneous circumferential contraction of the loops. Both loops include protuberances strategically located to apply concentrated pressure to selected sensitive areas of the head and nose in response to pulling force on the reins.

What I claim is: 
     
       1. An animal training halter for automatic expansion and contraction about the head and nose of an animal in response to external tension applied to the halter, comprising first expandable and contractible loop means adapted to encircle the head;   second expandable and contractible loop means adapted to encircle the nose;   the first and second loop means being operatively interconnected at an intersection in a crisscrossing fashion adjacent the chin groove forming the loops in a figure 8 configuration; and   rein means operatively connected to the first and second loop means for automatically circumferentially expanding and contracting the first and second loop means simultaneously in response to release and application of tension to the halter through the rein means.   
     
     
       2. The training halter as set out in claim 1 wherein: the first loop means encircles the head transversely and diagonally from the crisscross juncture at the chin groove to extend over both masseteric regions on opposite sides of the head to the poll; and   the second loop means encircles the nose transversely from the crisscross at the chin groove to extend therefrom over the cheek regions, the lateral regions of the nose, and the bridge of the nose.   
     
     
       3. The training halter as set out in claim 2 wherein the rein means is adapted to connect to the first and second loop means on opposite sides of the nose. 
     
     
       4. The training halter as set out in claim 3 wherein the first loop means includes a first protuberance thereon positioned to apply pressure to the facial nerve upon contraction of the first loop means circumferentially about the head. 
     
     
       5. The training halter as set out in claim 4 wherein the first loop means includes a second protuberance thereon positioned to apply pressure to the auricular nerve and branches of the cervical nerve upon contraction of the first loop means circumferentially about the head. 
     
     
       6. The training halter as set out in claim 5 wherein the second loop means includes a protuberance thereon positioned to apply pressure to branches of the facial nerve and the infraorbital nerve upon contraction of the second loop means circumferentially about the nose. 
     
     
       7. The training halter as set out in claim 3 wherein the second loop means includes a protuberance thereon positioned to apply pressure to branches of the facial nerve and the infraorbital nerve upon contraction of the second loop means circumferentially about the nose. 
     
     
       8. The training halter as set out in claim 1 further comprising: a cheek member for extending between the first and second loop means longitudinally along the crest of the cheek.   
     
     
       9. The training halter as set out in claim 6 further comprising: a cheek member for extending between the first protuberance on the first loop means, along the crest of the cheek to the protuberance on the second loop means; and   retaining means for holding the first loop against sliding movement about the head.   
     
     
       10. An animal training halter for automatic expansion and contraction about the head and nose of an animal in response to external tension applied to the halter, comprising: a noseband portion for extending transversely over the bridge of the nose;   control means interconnected to the nose band on one side of the nose for extending therefrom ventrally toward the ventral surface of the mandibular subregion, transversely across the chin groove, dorsally and posteriorally along the opposite side of the nose, across the masseteric region and parotid region to the poll, transversely over the poll and thence ventrally and anteriorally along the one side of the head across the parotid and masseteric regions toward the ventral surface of the mandibular subregion, then on transversely to crisscross with itself on the ventral surface of the mandibular subregion adjacent the chin groove, and subsequently dorsally again to interconnect with the nose band on the opposite side of the nose,   rein means integral with the control means and leading from the interconnections of the nose band and control means for enabling selective circumferential contraction and expansion of the halter about the head through application of tension to the halter through the interconnections of the control means and nose band.   
     
     
       11. The training halter as set out in claim 10 wherein the control means includes a first protuberance thereon ventral to and adjacent the ear to apply pressure to the facial nerve upon contraction of the halter circumferentially about the head and nose. 
     
     
       12. The training halter as set out in claim 10 wherein the control means includes a second protuberance thereon positioned posterior to and adjacent the ear to apply pressure to the auricular nerve and branches of the cervical nerve upon contraction of the halter circumferentially about the head and nose. 
     
     
       13. The training halter as set out in claim 11 wherein the control means includes a second protuberance thereon positioned posterior to and adjacent the ear to apply pressure to the auricular nerve and branches of the cervical nerve upon contraction of the halter circumferentially about the head and nose. 
     
     
       14. The training halter as set out in claim 10 wherein the nose band includes a protuberance thereon adjacent the maxillary subregion to apply pressure to branches of the facial nerve and the infraorbital nerve upon contraction of the halter about the head and nose. 
     
     
       15. The training halter as set out in claim 11 wherein the nose band includes a protuberance thereon adjacent the maxillary subregion to apply pressure to branches of the facial nerve and the infraorbital nerve upon contraction of the halter about the head and nose. 
     
     
       16. The training halter as set out in claim 12 wherein the nose band includes a protuberance thereon adjacent the maxillary subregion to apply pressure to branches of the facial nerve and the infraorbital nerve upon contraction of the halter about the head and nose. 
     
     
       17. The training halter as set out in claim 13 wherein the nose band includes a protuberance thereon adjacent the maxillary subregion to apply pressure to branches of the facial nerve and the infraorbital nerve upon contraction of the halter about the head and nose. 
     
     
       18. The training halter as set out in claim 10 further comprising: a cheek member interconnecting the nose band and control means on opposite sides of the head, extending along the crest of the cheek from the nose band adjacent the interconnections of the control means and nose band to the control means at a position adjacent the poll ventral to the ears.   
     
     
       19. The training halter as set out in claim 17 further comprising: a cheek member interconnecting the nose band and control means on opposite sides of the head, the cheek member being connected to the nose band adjacent the protuberance thereon and the control means adjacent the first protuberance thereon.